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Senate urges ban on textile imports, calls for revival of local mills
The Senate on Tuesday urged the federal government to ban the importation of textile materials and revive Nigeria’s textile industry to create jobs for the growing unemployed population.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Katung (Kaduna South) on the urgent need to revive Nigeria’s textile industry and restore its contribution to economic growth.
The motion was co-sponsored by senators Suleiman Abdurrahman (Kano South), Simon Lalong (Plateau South), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto South), Hussaini Uba (Jigawa Northwest) and Mohammed Muntari (Katsina South).
Mr Katung, while moving the motion, said that the first large-scale textile manufacturing mill in Nigeria was established in 1957 in Kaduna and later replicated across the regions.
He recalled that Nigeria’s textile industry flourished in the 1960s and 1970s due to strong government intervention, including import restrictions that attracted investors.
According to him, by the late 1970s and 1980s, Nigeria had about 167 textile mills employing more than 500,000 workers directly.
He said the sector became the country’s second-largest employer of labour after the federal government, contributing significantly to industrialisation, commerce and economic development.
Mr Katung noted that Kaduna earned the title of “Textile City” because it hosted major integrated mills and the headquarters of the Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association.
“Kaduna once had about 11 textile companies operating optimally, including Arewa Textiles Plc, Finetex Nigeria Limited, Nortex Nigeria Limited and United Nigerian Textiles Limited.
“By 1997, Kaduna Textile Limited, Arewa Textiles and United Nigerian Textiles Limited were barely functioning due to obsolete equipment and inadequate capital,” he said.
Mr Katung lamented that by 2007, the three major mills had shut down completely, leaving more than 7,000 workers unemployed and facilities abandoned.
The lawmaker said there were currently no significant new investments in the sector, while Nigeria depended on imports for more than 99 per cent of its textile needs.
He noted that Nigeria’s textile industry was once the third-largest in Africa, generating about $ 2 billion annually from a range of products.
According to him, the industry produced more than 1.4 billion pieces of textiles annually, including African prints, bed sheets, towels, and furnishing fabrics.
Mr Katung also identified the influx of foreign textile products into the country as one of the most serious threats confronting local manufacturers.
He further observed that since the lifting of the textile import ban in 2010, about 80 per cent of textiles consumed in Nigeria were imported.
Senator Mohammed Monguno also stated that Nigeria’s textile industry, once vibrant and economically significant, was now struggling due to imported products and rising production costs.
Mr Monguno proposed a ban on textile imports and the establishment of a special intervention fund by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to revive the sector, and the lawmakers adopted the proposal.
Contributing, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan called for greater attention to cotton cultivation, describing it as the primary raw material required to revive Nigeria’s textile industry.
She cited the contributions of cotton to economies such as the United States and Ethiopia, urging strategic collaboration among ministries to restore Nigeria’s competitiveness.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole blamed the collapse of Nigeria’s textile industry on poorly conceived trade policies and urged the Senate to ensure the motion does not suffer the fate of previous resolutions.
The Senate thereafter adopted additional prayers urging the federal government to provide special intervention funds through the Bank of Industry to support the revival of the textile industry.
The Senate also urged the federal government, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to revive textile industries nationwide.
According to the lawmakers, reviving textile factories in Nigeria will create jobs, reduce youth restiveness, and address growing insecurity challenges.
(NAN)
News
NFF Puts All Resources Into Second ‘Window Of Opportunity’ For Super Falcons’ 2027 Women’s World Cup Qualification Quest
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has put its full arsenal and all resources into a last-ditch charge to ensure the Super Falcons qualify for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup through a second ‘window of opportunity’ that lies in a qualification play-off versus South Africa.
Sports247 reports that, heading into Thursday’s decisive match in Rabat, Morocco, the NFF came out with an open letter of apology and declaration of purpose to propel the female national team towards a consolation victory at the ongoing 14th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Victory over South Afirca on Thursday will keep the Falcons’ World Cup hope alive, though they would still have to face two more games during an intercontenental play-off later in the year, and the NFF appealed for total support from all Nigerians to seal the ticket.
The football governing body’s epistle published on Tuesday, was narrated through their president, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, on behalf of the NFF executive committee, the Super Falcons and entire Nigerian football family, with apologies, deepest regrets and appeals.
It started with a direct apology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Falcons’ loss, then moved to expressions of disappoinment and acknowledgement of failure, while noting that the NFFF owes gratitude to ‘everyone who prayed, encouraged, travelled, watched and stood behind the Super Falcons.’
The NFF’s lengthy open letter stated in part, “Sincere apologies to the Government and people of Nigeria, following the Super Falcons’ failure to secure a direct qualification ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“The team went into the competition carrying the hopes of the nation and the enormous goodwill and support of the Federal Government, and we regret that we were unable to deliver the result expected at this stage.
“We wish to extend a special and heartfelt apology to His Excellency, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for this disappointment.
“A window of opportunity remains through the CAF play-off pathway, and the Super Falcons are determined to fight for one of the two available CAF play-off tickets and subsequently pursue qualification through the FIFA play-off tournament.
“We must now regroup, learn from this setback and focus completely on the opportunity that remains. The NFF, the Falcons’ technical team and players are committed to doing everything within their power to secure Nigeria’s place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“Our resolve is to ensure that the Super Falcons return stronger, fight harder and do everything possible to make Mr. President, the Federal Government and Nigerians proud once again.
“We sincerely thank Nigerians for their unwavering support and urge everyone to continue to stand with the Super Falcons, as we pursue the remaining route to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027.”
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